ESPN Gives Blazers Lower Grade Than Grizzlies After Ja Morant Trade
The Portland Trail Blazers surprised everybody across the NBA on Monday. The Blazers acquired point guard Ja Morant in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, sending Jerami Grant and Murray to Memphis.
While Morant had been on the trade market for quite some time, the Blazers were never publicly discussed as a landing spot.
Yet, here we are. The Blazers intend to use Damian Lillard and Morant together in an intriguing fit, especially if both of them can return to their All-Star form.
ESPN's Zach Kram had trade grades for both the Grizzlies and the Trail Blazers. The Grizzlies received a B, and the Blazers received a B-.
There are plenty of concerns with this move, including Morant's lack of development as a shooter.
And, Kram added another concern.
"It is therefore a massive question whether Morant can help the Trail Blazers, and if his potential can ever again manifest in offensive production and All-Star-level play," Kram added.
Why Blazers Do Make Sense for Morant
Although Portland was never a knwon landing spot, there are some reasons why this move makes sense.
For starters, it is a low-risk move, and Portland didn't have to give up much to bring in Morant.
Secondly, he should bring a boost to a team that needed some depth last season.
"While Portland hadn't been one of the teams rumored to have interest in Morant before Monday, however, this destination does make some sense for him. For large stretches of last season, injuries meant that Portland was playing without a point guard, which had some strange second-order effects," Kram wrote.
The Blazers also have Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday, and there might be a scenario where Holiday gets moved, given the plethora of guard depth on the floor.
It is quite the move for Portland, and at the very least, a duo of Lillard and Morant makes for plenty of headlines and excitement.
Whether or not this works out in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, Morant is headed to Portland to begin a new chapter.
Related: Grizzlies Send Ja Morant to Trail Blazers in Blockbuster Trade
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This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 10:35 PM.